Female Circumcision

 I had posted that the circumcision was for the male children only. Allah knew very well and ordered something. Men cannot be wiser than Him. I had given good reasons to forget the practice of female circumcision. But I see the matter is being pursued somehow.

 Even the prophet s.a.w.s. is involved into supporting it. That is not possible. As a lost resort, I would ask the friends here how many of the ladies of the Ummah were circumcised?? Were any of the wives of the prophet s.a.w.s. circumcised?? Was his daughter Fatima circumcised?? I am sure the answer is NO.

 Angela has given good reasons to prove that it is not an Islamic act and not necessary. There is no need to look for any medical benefits in female circumcision. Now I will take up the hadith which is being presented, shown below:

 The first reason is the statement of Muhammad: "Circumcision is a law for men and a preservation of honour for women."

 This Hadith does not refer to any circumcision of the female. It simply states that circumcision is a must for the male and that is an honor for the female. That means the circumcision of the males is an honor and good for the female from the point of cleanliness and comfort. It says nothing about the circumcision of the female. Please some one should try to give their comments about this hadith. It appears that it is being misunderstood. A circumsized man is an honor for the lady compared to an uncircumsized man.  But only ladies can tell this thing.

Types of circumcision:

a) Removal of the hood (or prepuce) of the clitoris. This procedure is, to some degree, analgous to male circumcision since in both cases, no part of the sexual organ is cut off. In both cases also, it is only the foreskin, or outer fold of the skin, which is cut off. Properly done, it is not likely to cause any "matrimonial" problem. This is the type the scholars mentioned is permitted according to the Islamic evidences.

b) Removal of the entire clitoris (clitorectomy) along with part of the labia minora, which is satured together leaving an opening. This is a form of mutilation and is haram (forbidden).

c) Removal of the entire clitoris, labia minora and medial part of the labia majora, with both sides of the female organ stitched together leaving a small opening. This procedure requires tying together the child's legs of nearly three weeks. It is called the Pharaonic procedure and also haram.

2. �For most of the Shafi'i school, circumcision is obligatory upon the women. While the Hanbali school and few scholars of the Shafi'i school hold that circumcision of women is not obligatory but Sunnah, while the Hanafi and the Maliki consider it a mere courtesy to the husband. And according to some scholars, female circumcision is customarily done in a hot climate.� [Fiqh al-Islam wa Adillatihi 3/741]

3. Some people quote the following hadith to argue that it is recommended: "Circumcision is a commedable act for men (Sunnah) and is an honorable thing for women (Makromah)." However this hadith is considered da�if (weak) according to the hadith scholars. [Al-Shawkani, Nayl Al-awtar, Dar Al-Jeel, Beirut, 1973, vol. 1, p. 139]

Da�if (weak) hadith cannot be used as evidence in ahkam shariah.

4. There is the following hadith on the subject:

"Cut off only the foreskin (outer fold of skin over the clitoris; the prepuce) but do not cut off deeply (i.e. the clitoris itself), for this is brighter for the face (of the girl) and more favourable with the husband." [Al-Tabarani, quoted in Al-albani, Muhammad N., Silsilat al-Ahadeeth Al-Sahihah, Al Maktab Al-Islami, Beirut, Lebanon, 1983, vol. 2, Hadeeth no. 722, pp. 353-358 espeically pp. 356-257. See also N. keller (translator/editor), The Reliance of the Traveller by Ahmad al-Masri, Modern Printing Press, Dubai, 1991, e 4.3, p. 59.]

5. There is also a Hadith narrated in Ahmad, also in Malik with similar wordings to the effect that if the two areas of circumcision (for a male and female) touch one another, than Ghusl (bathing) is required. This expression simply signified that after the intimate matrimonial relationship, both husband and wife must take a complete bath before they perform their daily prayers. The relevant part of this Hadeeth, however, is its reference to the two circumcised parts. Imam Ahmad uses this Hadeeth as an evidence that women (in Madinah) used to be circumcised. However this does not indicate that it is recommended, simply that it is permitted.

6. It is true that in some Muslim countries some of the people in Egypt and Somalia undertake the form of circumcision that Islam forbids i.e. the cutting off of the entire clitoris (clitorectomy) � however this is due to following traditions rather than Islam.

While the exact origin of female circumcision is not known, "it preceded Christianity and Islam." [Stewart, Rosemary, "Female Circumcision: Implicaitons for North American Nurses, " in Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, vol. 35, no.4, 1997, p. 35] The most radical form of female circumcision (infibulation) is known as the Pharaonic Procedure. This may signify that it may have been practiced long before the rise of Islam, Christianity and possibly Judaism. It is not clear, however, whether this practice originated in Egypt or in some other African countries then spread to Egypt. [Haqa'iq Ilmiyya Hawla Khitan Al-Inaath (in Arabic), Jam'iyyat Tanzeem Al-Usrah, Cairo, 1983, p.7.]

http://tsaqafahislam.com/risala/index.php?option=com_content &task=view&id=24&Itemid=34

I believe that Islam is a religion that stress very much on hygiene. Therefore this practise, even though is not sunnah mu'akaddah but mubah, it should be looked into further. In communities where this is widely practised like mine for example, I have never heard of anything negative about it.

Especially in the context of this age where little girls had shown such a high degree of sexual desire, truly I find it very scary.

Salam.

This is the key phrase from her response:

"In communities where this is widely practised like mine"

I don't think all the supported scientific and medical evidence would deter Nur from calling this practice "acceptable." I believe he/she has accepted this practice and will not be convinced. But in commenting on the negativity of high "sexual desire" I've come under the impression that some cultures: Arabs, Pakistanis, Afghans, Malays etc who live in Muslim dominated countries are greatly influenced by the cultural belief that sex especially in open discussion is taboo or those who are perceived to be "oversexual." Like Maryah has said theree is nothing wrong with having a high sexual drive as long as you can maintain your behavior and respect your partner's decision if he/she does not have the same sexual energy as you do.

I find it a continuous contradiction in the Muslim community when I hear Muslims talk big about everything being a gift from God yet we treat sex as a disgusting thing or something that is so nasty to talk about. Me frankly (slightly getting off topic) sex is a beautiful thing and I appreciate the artwork many Hindus draw in many of their literature and scripts regarding sex. Sexual intercourse is the closes thing a man and a woman can get so its important that we appreciate that. But to deter a woman from sexual stimulation by either piercing the flesh or slightly clipping it for the sole reason of deterring sexual desire is an ignorant way of practicing medicine. Men on the other hand are different.

Here is a little scientific fact:

 Although keeping the foreskin is not a big problem, if men remained uncircumcised and do not bathe themselves bacteria can become trapped under the foreskin layer and can cause a possible infection and leaves a nasty odor. Simply put the only reason why circumcision is important in the Muslim community is because of religious practice to mimick the prophet Abraham and his covenant with God (just saying in case many do not know). Women on the other hand I am not so sure. I perceive cutting the prepuce even in proper way (if there is one) still does not deter sexual desire nor can make a woman more hygenic. Remember women have hair in the groin area which, if left unkept can also trap bacteria which can cause a nasty odor just like uncircumcised men.

Simply put, if you do not clean yourself properly even if such practices are done you can still have very bad hygeine which may not make you sexually desirable anyway. Oh by the way ladies don't get ashamed as some of you may say when I talk about this because I do work in the medical field and I've seen it all this is kinda the cut and dry response like Maryah's and Angela.

 Nur_Ilahi:

 As we know, Islam very much encourage moderation. Anything we do, we are always to practise moderation. I am sure there are some hikmah or wisdom behind this sunnah practice.

 I am unable to understand whose Sunnah is that. who of the prophets family practiced it? I have no news and no idea. Could we say " I am sure there are some hikmah or wisdom behind this practice."